Franklin ball park developer pitching free beer to supporters

Developer Mike Zimmerman is pitching free beer to people who support his proposal for a city-financed minor league baseball stadium in Franklin.

An email sent to customers of The Rock, Zimmerman's sports complex near W. Rawson Ave. and S. 76th St., urges "Rock supporters" and their friends and family to attend Thursday's public information meeting about the proposal. The meeting is to begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Franklin Law Enforcement Center, 9455 W. Loomis Road.

The email invites supporters to "Join us after the meeting at Tap Works for FREE Miller Lite." Tap Works is the tavern at The Rock.

Zimmerman is proposing to develop the stadium and additional commercial development, including stores, restaurants and a hotel, that he says would create a downtown area for Franklin.

That new commercial development's property taxes would provide $10.5 million to compensate Zimmerman for his costs in developing the stadium if the city creates a tax incremental financing district.

The tax financing district would require Common Council approval, and a special council meeting has been scheduled for April 22 to review the proposal. It was first unveiled this week.

The stadium will act as a catalyst for economic growth, with new property values totaling a projected $100 million, Zimmerman says.

Nearby residents, however, are concerned about light pollution, noise, stormwater run-off and other unwelcome effects. Some are also questioning the economic benefit claims.

Commercial Real Estate News

For decades, Brookfield's Blue Mound Road has been the Milwaukee area's busiest retail corridor, extending westward from its anchor at Brookfield Square mall to Barker Road.

Now, that landscape is changing, with five major retail projects under construction — including Brookfield Square's latest redevelopment phase, and the Von Maur department store-anchored retail center known as The Corners.

Blue Mound Road features dozens of shopping centers and stand-alone retail buildings on the three-mile stretch between Moorland and Barker Roads. Those buildings have long enjoyed high occupancy rates, said Bruce Westling, principal at NAI MLG Commercial and a veteran retail leasing broker.(13)